THE ZIONIST GUARD SHOOTS ISRAELI CONVERTED-MUSLIM
Al Quds, Jerusalem, 12 Sha’ban 1434/21 June 2013 (MINA) – A security guard shot and killed an Israeli man on Friday (21/6) at a public restroom at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, one of Islam and Judaism as well as christian’s holy sites. He opened fire after hearing the man shout “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is greatest” in Arabic.
The guard said he fired his handgun because he thought the man was a Palestinian militant, Reuters quoted police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld as saying: “The fact he shouted Allahu Akbar, that seems to be why the security guard drew his weapon and fired a number of shots at him,” Rusia Today reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
The victim, who was Jewish and in his mid-40s, was treated for his injuries by paramedics but died from his wounds, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The victim of the shooting was a frequent visitor to the holy site, according to Israeli media. Lately, he claimed that he had converted to Islam, witnesses said.
The Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” – known as Takbir – is commonly used by Muslims in a variety of contexts, from formal prayer to casual expression of strong emotions like fear, surprise, triumph or defiance.
The shooting incident happened at the Western Wall, . It is the site of Islam’s third holiest mosque, Al-Aqsa as well as a place of regular mass worship for Jewish believers. The plaza adjoining the wall is located is next to the Temple Mount, which is revered by Jews as the place where two biblical temples once stood. It is also the site of Islam’s third holiest mosque, Al-Aqsa.
No Warning Shot
The man’s motives are not known, but local media reports suggested that he was a regular visitor to the site. “I don’t understand why he was shot. Everyone here knows him and his behaviour. He has often acted nervously. What happened here isn’t normal,” David Dahan, who was at the Western Wall at time of the shooting, told the Israeli news site, YNet.
A resident of Jerusalem’s Old City, told YNet: “The security guard should have first shot in the air, even if the guy was crazy he should have shot his foot, not straight at the chest. He made a mistake by shooting him with so many bullets. I don’t understand why he shot him with 10 bullets. He doesn’t do anything. Why didn’t the security guard stop after one bullet? I’m so sorry for him.”
“The fact he shouted Allahu al-Akbar, that seems to be why the security guard drew his weapon and fired a number of shots at him,” Mr Rosenfeld said. “We are looking into what (the dead man’s)… motives were.”
The guard is understood to have told police that he believed the man was an Arab and was about to launch an attack. When asked by the Associated Press if a weapon was found on the man’s body, Mr Rosenfeld said he had no more details.
The guard was arrested and questioned by police. He is later appeared in court on suspicion of murder and his detention was ordered until Tuesday. His identity was not given, and he did not speak during the hearing.
The Western Wall and its surrounding complex is one the biggest flashpoint spots in the Arab-Israeli conflict. On top of the Western Wall sits the Temple Mount, which Sunni Muslims regard as their third most sacred location, behind Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. It is often the scene of violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. (T/P03/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
